Apparatus, system and method for making carbanogel buckypaper from carbon dioxide and products thereof

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a process for making a carbanogel buckypaper product. Such carbanogel buckypaper product may be imparted with enhanced properties as compared to other buckypaper products. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the carbanogel can be generated by an electrolysis process that can transform a carbon-containing gas into a carbon nanomaterial.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S.Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 17/749,407 filed on May 20,2022, which claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 63/191,122, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to manufacturing a product using anelectrolysis process. In particular, the present disclosure relates tomethods of making a carbanogel product from carbon dioxide that is splitusing the electrolysis process.

BACKGROUND

Buckypapers are sheets of carbon nanomaterials (CNMs). The majority ofstudies report on buckypapers composed of carbon nanotubes.Additionally, buckypapers may be composed of graphene, graphene oxideand carbon nano-onions and have been studied.

Buckypapers have demonstrated diverse and enhanced physical and chemicalproperties including, but not limited to: high tensile strength; highelectrical conductivity; high thermal conductivity; electronicshielding; magnetic shielding; electrical charge storage for use inbatteries, fuel cells and capacitors; catalytic activity; reducedfriction; and, targeted therapeutic activity. Many of these propertiesoriginate from the planar sp² bonded carbons of graphene in differentgeometric arrangements including single or concentric, multiple walls ofgraphene cylinders (carbon nanotubes, CNTs), carbon nanofibers, singlelayered or multilayered (nano-platelets) graphene, hollow or concentric(nano-onion) buckyball spheres, and three-dimensional geometries such asgraphene nano-scaffolds.

The acceptance and widespread use of buckypaper had been hampered by thehigh cost of manufacturing the CNM components and the associated highcarbon-footprint. The manufacturing processes include a chemical vapordeposition (CVD) process that is conventionally used in the commercialproduction of CNMs. Currently, the price of CNMs such as CNTs, grapheneand carbon nano-onions are in the range of $100,000 USD to $10 millionper tonne. Comparatively, steel is priced at $400 to $700 per tonne.

In a typical buckypaper formation process the CNMs are first added to aliquid, then sonicated to provide a homogenous dispersion, and theliquid is filtered and/or dried off leaving the buckypaper formed as asolid sheet of dispersed CNMs.

As such, new approaches for commercial production of buckypaper thataddress the high costs and the associated high carbon-footprint aredesirable.

SUMMARY

The embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a process formanufacturing, or otherwise producing, sheets of carbon nanomaterials(CNMs), referred to herein as a buckypaper product, from carbanogelwhere such processes may also lower CO₂ levels. The process comprisesthe steps of forming a CNM containing carbanogel product by a moltenelectrolytic process for splitting of carbon dioxide (CO₂); recoveringthe carbanogel product pressing, sieving, peeling and/or crushing thecarbanogel product or a combination thereof, transferring, the crushedcarbanogel product with or without filtering, and without or withoutchemical, thermal, mechanical treatment, or electrochemical treatment toa mold; and compressing the carbanogel product within the mold to formthe buckypaper product.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a carbanogelbuckypaper (CB) that comprises carbon nanomaterials (CNM); and anelectrolyte.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a system for makinga carbanogel buckypaper. The system comprises: an apparatus forperforming an electrolysis process that splits carbon dioxide (CO₂)within a molten electrolyte for producing a carbanogel, wherein thecarbanogel comprises carbon nanomaterials (CNM) and electrolyte; a mold;and a compression unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

These and other features of the present disclosure will become moreapparent in the following detailed description in which reference ismade to the appended drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic of an apparatus for making carbanogel product, foruse in embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of a system, according to the embodiments of thepresent disclosure, for making a carbanogel buckypaper product.

FIG. 3 is a schematic that represents steps of a method according toembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a schematic that represents steps of a further methodaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a photograph of a carbanogel buckypaper made according toembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a photograph of a further carbanogel buckypaper made accordingto embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 shows photographs of scanning electron microscope images of acarbanogel made according to the embodiments of the present disclosure,wherein FIG. 7A shows an image of ×730 magnification; and, FIG. 7B showsan image of ×8600 magnification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Since 2009, the energy efficient conversion of CO₂ to carbon andoxidation by molten carbonate electrolysis has been known. Subsequently,the chemical conversion of CO₂ to a variety of graphitic carbonnanomaterials (CNMs) was demonstrated. These graphitic CNMs are valuabledue to a long-term stability and these materials having usefulproperties such as ultra-high strength, high electrical conductivity,high thermal conductivity, high battery storage capacity,electromagnetic radiation shielding, effective drug delivery and variousmedical properties, and useful catalysis properties.

CO₂→C_(nanomaterials)+O₂  (EQN. 1)

EQN. 1 demonstrates a molten electrolysis process whereby the carbonnanomaterials grow and remain on the cathode as a mix of tangled CNMsmixed with electrolyte. This mixture has been termed a carbanogel, andat least 95% of the electrolyte can be pressed out of this carbanogel byhigh-temperature press filtration.

Inclusion of sp² bonded carbon components of graphene and the single ormultiple layered graphene, which can occur within a CNM component mayprovide the CNMs within a carbanogel enhanced properties such as, butnot limited to, increased strength and conductivity of these CNMs.Additionally, the relative amount of a specific morphology of the CNMmay impart additional properties into the carbanogel and products madetherefrom. Examples of such morphologies include, but are not limitedto: as spherical nanocarbon, solid and hollow nano-onions, nanocarbon ofcylindrical allotropes, planar allotropes, helical allotropes, carbonnanotubes (CNTs), nanofibers, graphene, nano-platelets, nano-scaffolds,nano-trees, nano-belts, nano-flowers, nano-dragon, nano-trees,nano-rods, surface modified or metal coated CNMs, amorphous nanocarbonwithout graphitic characteristics or properties, or any combinationthereof. Examples of such additional properties include, but are notlimited to: reduced friction, resiliency, thermal conductance, flameresistance, chirality, enhanced surface area of the CNMs within thecarbanogel or any combination thereof. These properties are useful forspecific applications, including, but not limited to: lubrication,flexible materials, chiral light absorption, chiral light emission,chiral catalysis, improved electrochemical charge storage, enhancedcatalytic activity, fire resistance, or enhanced EMF shieldingcapabilities. The CNMs within the carbanogel may also include additionalfeatures including doping, magnetism, unusual shapes and diminished orenlarged size. Without being limited by any theory, CNTs can includesingle walled CNTs; multi-walled CNTs; doped CNTs, such as boron,sulfur, phosphorous or nitrogen doped CNTs; magnetic CNTs; bamboo shapedCNTs; pearl shaped CNTs; isotope specific CNTs, such as ¹²C and ¹³CCNTs; surface modified or metal coated CNTs; helical CNTs, includingsingle or double braided CNTs; spiral helical CNTs; thin, thick or solidwalled CNTs; thin or thick diameter CNTs; short or wool (long) CNTs, orany combination thereof.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, acarbon-containing gas can be subjected to an electrolysis process, alsoreferred to herein as the electrosynthesis process, for generating acarbanogel that contains a carbon nanomaterial (CNM) product from thecarbon within the gas. The term “carbanogel” is used herein to refer toa mixture of CNM and electrolyte that is a product of the electrolysisprocess and is localized on the cathode during and after theelectrolysis process. The terms “carbon nanomaterial product” and “CNMproduct” are used herein to refer to a collection of nanocarbon, whichmay also be referred to as nano-scaled carbon, of one or moremorphologies. The term “nanocarbon” is used herein to refer to carbonthat is arranged into specific structures, such as graphitic nanocarbonstructures, within the nanoscale. In particular, the carbon from thecarbon-containing gas can be split into carbon and oxygen using a moltenelectrolyte media and a variety of electrolysis process configurations.The electrolysis process can cause a mass transfer of carbon from a gasphase into the molten electrolyte media, the solid CNM product or both.The CNM product can be a substantially pure, pure, or impure, carbonnanomaterials (CNMs) including carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The CNM productmay comprise one or more morphologies of CNM structures, as describedherein above or any combination thereof. Optionally, one or moreparameters of the electrolysis process may be adjusted in order tochange the relative amount of a given morphology within the CNM product.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the electrolysis process may occur within anapparatus 10 that comprises a case 12, which may also be referred to asan electrolysis chamber or electrolysis cell, for housing a cathode 18,where an anode 16 may form at least a portion of an inner surface of awall of the case 12. Together the two electrodes define an electrolysisspace therebetween. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art,optionally the anode 16 may be separate from the wall of the case 12.The case 12 is configured to house an electrolyte media 21. Theelectrolysis space B, including an upper surface 21A of the electrolyte,may be in fluid communication with a source of the carbon-containing gas(shown as D in FIG. 1 ). In some embodiments of the present disclosure,the case 12 may be contained within an insulated housing 20 that is madeof a thermal insulator material. The insulated housing 20 may alsoinclude a top 22, or sides or bottom (not shown) that is made of athermal insulator material or not, and the thermal insulator may be fromCO₂ permeable thermal insulator such as high temperature woven ceramics,or largely CO₂ impermeable thermal insulators. Examples of the permeablethermal insulator including, but are not limited to, MorganCerablanket®, made from oxides of alumina and silica and may includezirconia, and Morgan Superwool® made from alkaline earth silicates, bothrated for temperatures in excess of 1,200° C. Examples of largely CO₂impermeable thermal insulator include the wide range of availablecommercial firebricks or poured refractory cement and mortars, andexamples of which include, but are not limited to: BNZ Materialsfirebricks and refractory cement and mortar such as PA 20 and 23, andBNZ 2000, 2300, 23A, 2600, 26-60, 2800, 3000 and 3200 rated fortemperatures in excess of 1,090° C.

The source of the carbon-containing gas may be various industrial plantsincluding but not limited to: cement manufacturing plants; iron refiningplants; steel manufacturing plants; plants that make or use one or moreof ammonia, ethanol, magnesium, hydrogen, polymers, plastics, glass;waste water treatment plants, food processing plants. The source of thecarbon-containing gas may also be chemical reactors including internalcombustion engines and combustion of carbonaceous materials for heatingor cooking. Emission gases from a power generating plant, steamgeneration facility, or pyrolysis reactors may also be a source of thecarbon-containing gas. A carbon-containing gas emitted from thesesources or in the production of any high carbon-footprint substance mayalso contribute to or constitute a source of carbon for making a CNMproduct. In addition, a gas product of the combustion or transformationof fossil fuels for heating, transportation, and carbon products such aspolymers and plastics can also contribute to or constitute a source ofcarbon for making a CNM product.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the anode 16 is formed asa planar structure, a wire structure, a screen, a porous structure, aconductive plate, a flat or folded shim, a coiled structure or the anodecan form at least part of an inner side wall of the case 12. The anode16 can be formed of various conductive materials so that the anode 16may be oxygen generating or not. Such anode-forming materials include,but are not limited to: any conductive material that has a stable layer,or establishes, a highly stable oxide outer layer that is conducive tooxygen production during the electrolysis reactions performed accordingto the embodiments of the present disclosure, Ni, Ni alloys, galvanized(zinc coated) steel, titanium, graphite, iron, and a wide variety ofmetal which establish a highly stable oxide outer layer that isconducive to oxygen production. Further examples of suitable materialsfor forming the anode 16 include Nickel Alloy 36 (nickel withoutchromium, but with iron), Nichrome (nickel chromium-based alloys)including stainless steels such as SS 304 or SS 316, and inconel alloys,such as Inconel 600, 625, and 718, alloy C-264, or Nichromes such asChromel A, B or, as the co-nucleation of the alloy components are knownto produce high quality CNTs. Binary and ternary transition metalnucleation agents may also be useful that include, but are not limitedto: Ni, Cr, Sn, In, Fe, and Mo can also affect CNM product growth.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a transition metal may beadded on to the anode 16, which can be dissolved from the anode 16 tomigrate through the electrolyte media 21 onto the cathode 18. The addedtransition metal can function as a nucleating agent, which may beselected from nickel, iron, cobalt, copper, titanium, chromium,manganese, zirconium, molybdenum, silver, cadmium, tin, ruthenium, zinc,antimony, vanadium tungsten, indium, gallium, or non-transition metalssuch as germanium or silicon, or a mixture thereof, including, but notlimited to brass, Monel, and nickel alloys. The transition metal mayalso be introduced as a dissolved transition metal salt within theelectrolyte media 21 directly to migrate onto the cathode 18. It is alsopossible to add the transition metal nucleating agent directly onto thecathode 18.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the cathode 18 is formedas a planar structure, a wire structure a screen, a porous structure, aconductive plate, a flat or folded shim, a sheet, a coiled structure orthe cathode can form at least part of an inner side wall of the case 12.The cathode 18 can be formed of various conductive materials thatreflect the need for variation of the nucleation point and the CNMproduct that forms on the cathode 18. Such cathode-forming materialsinclude, but are not limited to: any conductive material, galvanized(zinc coated) steel, titanium, graphite, iron, an alloy that comprisescopper and zinc, Monel (Ni 400, a Ni/Cu alloy), Inconel, stainlesssteel, iron, Nichrome, pure Cu, and brass alloys may also be suitable asmaterials for making the cathode 18.

The anode 16 and the cathode 18 may be aligned substantially parallel toeach other within the case 12, such as a stainless steel case or a casemade of substantially pure or pure alumina. The case 12 may be made ofany material that is suitable to contain the molten electrolyte media 21and to sustain the temperatures achieved by the apparatus 10A. Theelectrodes may be oriented in any orientation, including but not limitedto substantially horizontally or substantially vertically, but spacedapart from each other so as to define the electrolysis space Btherebetween. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, theelectrolysis space B is between about 0.1 cm and about 10 cm. In someembodiments of the present disclosure, the electrolysis space B is about1 cm. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the dimensionsof the electrolysis space B will be dictated by the scale of theapparatus 10, such as the size of each electrode, the plenum definedwithin the case, the amount of electric current applied and combinationsthereof.

The anode 16 and the cathode 18 are operatively connected to a source ofelectric current (not shown), which can be any source of an alternatingcurrent or a direct current, either constant or not, that provides acurrent density of between about 0.001 A/cm2 and 10 A/cm2. In someembodiments of the present disclosure, the current density providedbetween the electrodes is at least 0.02 A/cm², 0.05 A/cm², 0.1 A/cm²,0.2 A/cm², 0.3 A/cm², 0.4 A/cm², 0.5 A/cm², 0.6 A/cm², 0.7 A/cm², 0.8A/cm², 0.9 A/cm², 1.0 A/cm² or greater. The power for the source ofelectric current may be any power source or combination of powersources, including electrical power sources, solar power sources and thelike.

The source of heat (not shown) can be any source of heat that increasesthe temperature within the case 12 to a temperature that causes theelectrolyte media 21 to transition to a molten phase. For example, thesource of heat can achieve a temperature within the case 12 of betweenabout 500° C. and about 850° C. or higher. In some embodiments of thepresent disclosure, the heating achieves a temperature between about700° C. and about 800° C., between about 720° C. and about 790° C., orbetween about 750° C. and about 780° C. In some embodiments of thepresent disclosure, the heating achieves a temperature of 749-750° C.,751-752° C., 753-754° C., 755-756° C., 757-758° C., 759-760° C.,761-762° C., 763-764° C., 765-766° C., 767-768° C., 769-770° C.,771-772° C., 773-774° C., 775-776° C., 777-778° C., or 779-780° C. Insome embodiments of the present disclosure, the temperature within thecase 12 can be increased to about 800° C. or hotter. In some embodimentsof the present disclosure, the source of heat is provided by, or issupplemented by, the exothermic reaction of CO₂ absorption andconversion to carbonate (mass transfer from the gas phase to the solidphase CNM product), or an over potential of applied electrolysiscurrent.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the electrolyte media maycomprise a carbonate that can be heated by the heat source until ittransitions to a molten phase. For example, the carbonate may be alithium carbonate or lithiated carbonate. Molten carbonates, such as alithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃), which has a melting point of 723° C., orlower melting point carbonates such as LiBaCaCO₃, having a melting pointof 620° C., when containing oxide includes spontaneous oxide formationthat occurs upon melting, or that is a result of electrolysis or whenmixed with highly soluble oxides, such as Li₂O, Na₂O and BaO, sustainrapid absorption of CO₂ from the space above the molten electrolytemedia. Suitable carbonates may include alkali carbonates and alkaliearth carbonates. Alkali carbonates may include lithium, sodium,potassium, rubidium, cesium, or francium carbonates, or mixturesthereof. Alkali earth carbonates may include beryllium, magnesium,calcium, strontium, barium, or radium carbonates, or mixtures thereof.In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the electrolyte can be amixed composition for example, a mix of alkali carbonates and alkaliearth carbonates and one or more of an oxide, a borate, a sulfate, anitrate, a chloride, a chlorate or a phosphate.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the carbanogelsare formed by the molten carbonate electrolytic splitting of CO₂. Thecarbanogels comprise a mixture of a CNM network and electrolyte thatremain after the electrolysis process is stopped. Interestingly, notonly can the carbanogel retain the CNM network after crushing, but thecrushed pieces can be reassembled to form a buckypaper. Some, most,substantially all or all of the electrolyte can removed from thebuckypaper by pressing, reacting or washing the electrolyte out.Pressing the crushed pieces, with or without the electrolyte, can resultin a contiguous layer that may be referred to as “carbanogel buckypaper”(CB). After removing some or all of the electrolyte, the carbanogelconsists of CNMs composed of high purity carbon. After removing some orall of the electrolyte, the CB may define internal voids. For example,the CB may define void spaces within the CB, upon the CNM surfaceswithin the CB, within the CNM (internal of the CNM) or combinationsthereof. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “void” means atwo or three-dimensional space within the CB that is substantially freeof electrolyte or other matter.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the voids defined withinthe CB may be partially, substantially fully filled or completely filledwith a void-filling agent, such as an application-based material.Examples of suitable void-filling agents include, but are not limitedto: a strengthener, a catalyst, a dopant, a medicine or anelectromagnetic field (EMF) shielding agents. Strengtheners can include,but are not limited to epoxies, resins and other polymers, cementitiousmaterials and metals. Catalysts can include, but are not limited tomaterials to expedite chemical or electrochemical reactions. Dopants caninclude, but are not limited to materials that at low quantity withinthe voids materially affect the physical chemical properties of the CB.The CNM components in the CB can be aligned mechanically, electricallyor magnetically during the CB formation to further enhance the CBproperties, including, but not limited to strength, electrical, andthermal properties. The electrical and/or magnetic alignment is achievedwith application of an orienting electrical and/or magnetic field duringthe CB preparation stages. Magnetic CNMs are prepared by incorporatingmagnetic materials, such as metals or metal carbides during theelectrolysis process when generating the CNM. The CB sheets may be usedalone, such as in liners, heat retardants, or shields, or incombination, such as but not limited to laminates, with other materialsto impart improved properties to those other materials.

It is known that the high production cost of CNMs is predominantly dueto high reactant and energy costs. Without being bound by any particulartheory, these production costs can be lowered by two orders of magnitudewhen produced from CO₂ using a molten electrolysis process according tothe embodiments of the present disclosure.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a system 200 formaking a CB product 222. As shown in the non-limiting example of FIG. 2, the system 200 comprises an apparatus 210 for performing anelectrolysis process that splits carbon dioxide (CO₂) within a moltenelectrolyte for producing a carbanogel, a mold 212 and a compressionunit 214. The system 200 may be used to perform the methods of thepresent disclosure, as described herein below.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the apparatus 210 may bethe same or similar to the apparatus 10 described herein above. Theapparatus 210 is configured to perform an electrolysis process thatsplits a carbon-containing gas within a molten electrolyte. The productof that splitting is a CNM product with bulk or residual electrolytethere within, namely a carbanogel that may also be referred to as acarbanogel product.

The mold 212 is a vessel that receives the carbanogel (as shown by lineX in FIG. 2 ), whether as a cool product or hot product. The mold 212can be made of various materials and be of any shape and dimension,provided that the mold 212 is robust enough to withstand thetemperatures and pressures that may be applied to the carbanogel therewithin. The CB product 222 is received from the mold 212 and,optionally, the system 200 may further include an isolation unit 224 forprotecting the CB product 222 from an oxidative environment. Theisolation unit 224 may include a fluid tight vessel that is of suitabledimensions to receive the CB product 222 and to remove any oxidativeagents, such as oxygen containing gas, from within the vessel, forexample by vacuum pump, and to replace and fluids within the vessel witha non-oxygen containing gas, such as an inert gas.

The compression unit 214 can be various suitable components, mechanismsor machines that apply a compressive force upon the carbanogel withinthe mold 212. The amplitude of the compressive force can vary dependingon the size of the carbanogel particles received in the mold 212 and theextent to which the carbanogel comprises electrolyte, as discussedfurther below. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, thecompression mechanism 214 includes a vacuum that can pull the carbanogel(as shown by line Y in FIG. 2 ) through a filter, either within or intothe mold 212.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the system 200 mayfurther include a processing unit 216 for crushing a cooled or hotcarbanogel product prior to (or following) being received by the mold212. The processing unit 216 can be various suitable components,mechanisms or machines that can withstand the temperatures of thecarbanogel, such as but not limited to: a grinder; a mincing unit; aphysical press; a pulverizing unit; a mill or any combinations thereof.The resulting particle size of the carbanogel is determined by theextent of the processing operation performed by the processing unit 216.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the system 200 mayfurther comprise an electrolyte reducing unit 218. The electrolytereducing unit 218 can receive the carbanogel product, cooled or hot,directly from the apparatus 210 and/or it may receive the processedcarbanogel product from the processing unit 216. The electrolytereducing unit 218 reduces the electrolyte content of the carbanogelproduct (processed or unprocessed) so that the reduced electrolytecontent carbanogel can be processed (or further processed) in theprocessing unit 216 and then received in the mold 212. Alternatively oradditionally, the reduced electrolyte content carbanogel can be receivedin the mold from the electrolyte reducing unit 218.

The electrolyte reducing unit 218 can reduce the electrolyte content ofthe carbanogel (processed or unprocessed) by mechanical approaches,chemical approaches, electrochemical approaches or any combinationthereof. For example, the mechanical approaches may include varioussuitable components, mechanisms or machines that can reduce theelectrolyte content of the carbanogel, such as a mechanical press thatpushes the carbanogel through a mesh, or a sieve, a heater for meltingthe electrolyte within the carbanogel, a filter (room temperature orhigh temperature) or any combination thereof. The chemical approachesfor reducing the electrolyte content of the carbanogel include one ormore washing stations for exposing the carbanogel to one or morechemicals that can dissolve the electrolyte. In addition to reducing theelectrolyte content the one or more chemicals may also be applied todissolve impurities, such as amorphous carbons or metals, from the CNMwithin the carbanogel. The electrochemical approaches include apparatusfor performing selective electrolysis for reducing the electrolytecontent and/or impurity content of the carbanogel.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the system 200 mayfurther include an alignment unit 220 that aligns at least a portion ofthe CNM components in the carbanogel (processed and/or electrolytereduced or not) and/or the CB product (as shown in the non-limitingexample of FIG. 2 ). The alignment unit 220 may be integrated into themold 212 such that the alignment procedure performed by the alignmentunit 220 occurs within the mold. Alternatively or additionally, thealignment unit 220 may be a separate physical component from the mold212 that can receive uncompressed carbanogel (processed and/orelectrolyte reduced or not), perform the alignment procedure and thentransfer the aligned carbanogel to the mold 212. The alignment unit 220may employ one or more of a mechanical approach, an electric approach, amagnetic approach or any combination thereof so that the aligned CMNcomponents within a CB product have desired anisotropic properties. Thealignment unit 220 may employ a mechanical approach by various suitablecomponents, mechanisms or machines can apply an orienting physicalstress field to the CNMs within the carbanogel (processed and/orelectrolyte reduced or not) and/or within the CB product. For example,the mechanical approach can apply a shear force to the CNM productwithin the carbanogel. The shear force can be applied by pulling,spinning or dragging a body, such as a piston, through the CNMs withinthe carbanogel (processed and/or electrolyte reduced or not) and/orwithin the CB product. Alternatively, the shear force can bedirectionally applied to increase CNM entanglement rather than CNMalignment.

The alignment unit 220 may employ an electrical approach by varioussuitable components, mechanisms or machines that can apply an orientingelectrical field to the CNMs within the carbanogel (processed and/orelectrolyte reduced or not) and/or within the CB product.

The alignment unit 220 may employ magnetic approach by various suitablecomponents, mechanisms or machines that can apply an orienting magneticfield to the CNMs within the carbanogel (processed and/or electrolytereduced or not) and/or within the CB product.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the alignment unit 220may be used to decrease rather than increase the directional alignmentof the CNM and, therefore, a decrease in any anisotropic properties ofthe CB product.

FIG. 3 shows the steps of a method 100 for making a CB product ascomprising the steps of receiving 102 a carbanogel, positioning 104 thecarbanogel in a mold, compressing 108 the carbanogel and recovering 110the CB product. FIG. 4 shows a method 100A that includes many of thesteps of method 100 and the further step of generating 101 thecarbanogel by the electrolysis process described herein above and thesteps of processing 103 and/or reducing 105 the electrolyte content ofthe carbanogel.

For the step of receiving 102, the carbanogel may be generated using theelectrolysis process described herein above, this may be referred to asthe step of generating 101. The generated carbanogel contains thetangled product of the CNM grown on the cathode during the moltenelectrolytic splitting of CO₂. By selectively controlling theoperational parameters of the generating step 101, electrolysis processdescribed above, the generated carbanogel can have a greater relativeamount of a desired morphology of the CNM within the carbanogel. Forexample, the electrolysis process can be controlled to increase therelative amounts of spherical nanocarbon, solid and hollow nano-onions,nanocarbon of cylindrical allotropes, planar allotropes, helicalallotropes, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), nanofibers, graphene,nano-platelets, nano-scaffolds, nano-trees, nano-belts, nano-flowers,nano-dragon, nano-trees, nano-rods, surface modified or metal coatedCNMs, amorphous nanocarbon without graphitic characteristics orproperties, or any combination thereof as compared to other morphologiesof nanocarbon structures within the CNM of the carbanogel.

The generated carbanogel that contains the CNM product may be receivedin a step of carbanogel processing 103 that includes allowing thecarbanogel to cool, peeling, or breaking off pieces of the carbanogelfrom the cooled cathode 18, crushing the carbanogel, or any combinationthereof. Alternatively, in the step of processing 103, the carbanogelthat contains the CNM product can be extracted while still hot from thecathode 18 and containing hot molten electrolyte and then subjecting thehot carbanogel to crushing or other steps of the methods describedherein. As such, the step of receiving 102 may be of cooled and solid orhot and thick, fluid carbanogel, which may have been subjected tofurther processing, or not.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the step ofprocessing 103 can be performed by various approaches such as crushingtechniques including, but not limited to: grinding; mincing; pressing;pulverizing; milling or combinations thereof. The resulting particlesize of the carbanogel material within the carbanogel is determined bythe extent of the crushing. Furthermore, the resulting carbanogelparticle size may constrain the minimum thickness of the CB product.Further and/or more rigorous crushing will result in a smallercarbanogel particle size and, hence, a thinner CB product as compared tothe scenario where the step of processing 103 is performed for a shorteramount of time and/or with less rigor.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the electrolyte andimpurity content of the carbanogels can be reduced by the step ofreducing 105. Without being limited, the reduced impurities may includenon-graphitic carbons, such as amorphous carbon and metals, or acombination thereof. Some, most, substantially all or all of theelectrolyte and or the impurities can be removed from the carbanogel bypressing, reacting or washing the carbanogel with chemical, mechanicalor electrochemical approaches. For example, mechanical approaches forthe reducing step 105 may include applying physical pressure to thecarbanogel to mechanically force electrolyte out of the carbanogelthrough a sorting device such as a mesh with specific pore sizes.Mechanical approaches may also include regulating temperatures above themelting point of the electrolyte to facilitate electrolyte flow andseparation. The melting point of alkali and alkali earth carbonateelectrolytes range from less than 400° C. for molten eutectic ternaryLi, Na, K carbonate to 891° C. for potassium carbonate. The appliedpressure can range from 0 up to 1000 pounds per square inch (psi), 1000up to 2000 psi, or 2000 or greater psi. Alternatively or additionally,the reducing 105 may include a chemical approach whereby the carbanogelis exposed to one or more chemicals to cause a reaction whereby theelectrolyte content of the carbanogel is reduced. For example, a washingliquid can be used to wash the carbanogel, where the washing liquid candissolve a portion of the residual, or bulk, electrolyte from thecarbanogel particles. The washing liquid can include neutral pH liquidssuch as water or aqueous salt solutions, or acidic or alkaline solutionswhich can promote dissolution of the molten electrolyte, such as formicor hydrochloric acid, or ammonia sulfate, oxidizing solutions, such aspermanganate or peroxide, or organic solvents, or any combinationthereof. In addition to reducing the electrolyte the washing liquid canbe applied to dissolve impurities, such as amorphous carbons or metals,from the CNM. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, electrolytecontent of the carbanogel can be reduced by room temperature filtrationand/or high temperature filtration. Further approaches for reducing 105the electrolyte content of the carbanogel include, but are not limitedto: mechanical approaches like sieving and filtering; electrochemicalmeans, such as selective electrolysis; thermal means, such as oxidativeremoval by combustion of less stable amorphous carbons can also beapplied to remove CNM impurities; or any combination thereof. Reducingthe electrolyte content of the carbanogel may increase the relativeproportion of CNMs in the carbanogel, which can lower the pressurerequired to form the CB product. In some embodiments of the presentdisclosure, the step of reducing 105 the electrolyte and/or impuritycontent of the carbanogel can be performed one or more times on theprocessed or unprocessed carbanogel.

During the positioning step 104, the carbanogel can be positioned in amold, such as mold 212, and then the processing step 103 and/or thereducing step 105 can occur. Alternatively, the processing step 103and/or the reducing step 105 can occur in a vessel, other than the moldand then the processed and/or electrolyte and/or impurity reducedcarbanogel can be positioned in the mold. Accordingly, in FIG. 4 adouble-headed arrow is used to represent the interchangeability of theorder of the positioning step 104 and the processing step 103 and thereducing step 105. The shape of the mold will determine the final shapeof the CB product, which is not limited in any way. In some embodimentsof the present disclosure, the mold may be substantially flat with a topand a bottom for producing a substantially planar sheet of CB product.In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the mold may have adesired three-dimensional (3D) shape so that the CB product will have asimilar 3D shape. The 3D mold can be of substantially any shape.

Surprisingly, under compressive pressure the carbanogel particles mayassemble to form a contiguous sheet. Several layers of thin crushedcarbanogel particles, or one or more layers of larger carbanogelparticles can be subjected to the step of compressing 108 to make the CBproduct. For example, following the compressing 108 one layer of crushedcarbanogel particles sized about 25 μm will form a sheet that isapproximately, but less than, 25 μm thick. Whereas, four layers of 25 μmsized carbanogel particles will form a sheet that is approximately, butless than, 100 μm thick. Similarly, 1 layer of 100 μm sized carbanogelparticles will form a sheet that is approximately, but less than, 100 μmthick.

The step of compressing 108 the carbanogel and the steps of applyingheat 107, applying pressure 109, allowing sedimentation to occur and/orfiltering 111, such as vacuum filtering, and a step of aligning 113 orany combination thereof, to the carbanogel may be repeated more than onetime to ensure formation of the desired CB product. Under variousconditions, the step of applying pressure 109 may include applying apressure of between about 1 to about 1,000 psi, between about 1,000 toabout 2,000 psi, or above 2,000 psi can be applied to the carbanogelparticles to form the CB product. Applying pressure 109 in the higherend of these ranges, or beyond, may be required to form sheets of CBproduct that are stable at room temperature. Those stable sheets of CBproduct may then be subjected to a further step of heating 107,optionally in the mold, to temperatures sufficient to melt any residualelectrolyte within and among the carbanogel particles. The temperaturerequired to melt any residual electrolyte will depend on the electrolytecomposition. In general, the carbanogel particles will tend to decomposewhere at least a portion of the CNM content of the carbanogel convertsto carbon monoxide (CO) at temperatures above 900° C. Although some CNMstructures may be sustained within the carbanogel at temperatures ofabout 1000° C. in the presence of high CO₂ gas pressure. For example,pure Li₂CO₃, Na₂CO₃, or K₂CO₃, electrolytes have melting point of about723° C. 851° C., and 891° C. respectively, while a mix of Li₂CO₃ andNa₂CO₃ can melt at temperature less than about 700° C., and aLi_(x)Na_(y)K_(z)CO₃ eutectic melts at 399° C. As such, the step ofheating 107 can occur within a temperature range of about 0° C. andabout 1000° C., in the presence of high pressure CO₂ or a narrower rangeof about 15° C. and about 900° C. or between about 399° C. and about850° C.

When the CB product has had most, substantially all or all of theelectrolyte content removed the CB product loses a protection providedby the electrolyte. As such, care may be required to prevent oxidativeloss of the CNM product, such as, but not limited to, an optional stepof isolating 112 the CB product from an oxygen-containing atmosphere oradding an oxygen-free protecting gas, such as an inert gas that will notoxidize or otherwise react with the CB product. Non-limiting examples ofsuch an inert gas include nitrogen, argon or a mixture of gases with afull complement of valence electrons.

Without being bound by any particular theory, the steps of method 100and method 100A may cause fused residual electrolyte or bulk electrolyte(depending on whether the reducing step 105 is performed and to whatextent) to be combined with van de Waals between the CNM structures toprovide a driving force for assembling the carbanogel particles into acontiguous sheet of CB.

As described above, the CB product may define voids that can be leftvacant. Alternatively, these voids can be partially, substantially fullyor fully filled with application-based materials, such as strengtheners,catalysts, dopants, magnetic materials, medicines or EMF shieldingenhancing agents. Similarly, during the generating step 101 using theelectrolysis process for making the CNM product, the CNMs themselves canbe modified with strengtheners, catalysts, dopants, magnetic materials,medicines or EMF shielding enhancing agents.

Strengtheners that may be included in the void spaces of the CB productcan include, but are not limited to epoxies, resins and other polymers,cementitious materials, metals and alloys. Catalysts that may beincluded in the void spaces include, but are not limited to materials toexpedite chemical or electrochemical reactions. Dopants that may beincluded in the void spaces can include, but are not limited to: boron,nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorous and cobalt, aluminum, silicon, copper,silver, zinc, cerium, platinum, gold, ruthenium, osmium, tellurium,their respective oxides, salts combinations thereof and other materialsthat incorporated within the structure of the CNMs and which at lowrelative quantities materially affect the physical and chemicalproperties of the CNMs and the carbanogel buckypaper made therefrom.When incorporated the dopants may enhance properties including, but notlimited to, conductivity, catalytic activity and battery storagecapacity. Magnetic materials that may be included in the void spaces ofthe CB product include, but are not limited to: one or more of iron,nickel, cobalt, gadolinium, samarium, neodymium, steel, or theircarbides, and other alloys comprising one or more magnetic materialswith ferromagnetic properties, paramagnetic properties, diamagneticproperties and any combination thereof. Magnetic properties of theenhanced CB product include applications for flexible magnets, magneticstorage and magnetic shielding.

The known processes for manufacturing buckypaper products require adispersion step, such as sonication, in order to provide a homogeneousdistribution of the CNM components within the buckypaper product. Incontrast, according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, andwithout being bound by any particular theory, the CNMs within thecarbanogel and/or the CB product may already homogeneously distributed.Hence, the embodiments of the present disclosure do not require such aCNM dispersion step; however, this step may be added to mix in otheradditives, or quality control. In the embodiments of the presentdisclosure, steps to apply forces that align the CNMs, rather thandisperse, may additionally be utilized in the embodiments of the presentdisclosure. Additionally, liquids may added prior to the step ofapplying 108 to maintain more even layering of the carbanogel particles.These steps of aligning 113 may impart directional, anisotropicproperties into the CB product, and the steps of aligning 113 may alsoprovide enhanced properties to the CB product. For example, imparteddirectional, anisotropic properties may provide, but are not limited to,enhanced strength, conductivity and directional interactions withvisible and other electromagnetic radiation as compared to otherbuckypaper products and CB products of the present disclosure that arenot subjected to an aligning step 113. The step of aligning 113 caninclude applying one or more alignment forces such as linear, radial,cylindrical, spherical forces or forces of other geometries to producelinear, radial, cylindrical, spherical or other directional geometriesof anisotropy within the carbanogel.

The step of aligning 113 can be applied to the CNM components in thecarbanogel and/or the CB product mechanically, electrically,magnetically or any combination thereof during the methods 100, 100A.The step of aligning 113 by mechanical alignment can be achieved byapplying a shear force, such as by pulling or spinning during one ormore of the process steps or dragging a piston for applying a formationpressure upon the CNMs within the carbanogel and/or within the CBproduct. Alternatively, the shear force can be directionally applied toincrease CNM entanglement rather than CNM alignment.

The step of aligning 113 by electrical alignment may be achieved byapplying an orienting electrical field to the CNMs within the carbanogeland/or within the CB product during the methods 100, 100A. The step ofaligning 113 by magnet alignment may be achieved by applying anorienting magnetic field during the methods 100, 100A. Operationalparameters of the step of generating 101 may be selected so that theelectrolysis process creates magnetic CNMs. For example, the operationalparameters may be selected to add metals or metal carbides during theelectrolysis process. Without being bound by any particular theory, adecrease in distance of the magnetic field, more than for the electricfield, during magnetic alignment may be more offset than during theelectric alignment due to the competing random disorder of Brownianmotion, which increases with temperature and freedom of motion, anddecreases with increasing molecular mass and viscosity. Hence, the stepof aligning 113 may be enhanced by decreases of temperature andincreases with viscosity of the carbanogel.

FIG. 5 is a first example of a CB made from CO₂. The example is entirelyblack; the figure was lightened to highlight contrast. The first CBexample was made using an electrolysis to transform CO₂ to carbanogel.The carbanogel is made in the apparatus 10 using a steel stainless case304 in a 750° C. Li₂CO₃ molten electrolyte with a Muntz brass cathodeand a stainless steel 304 anode producing a CNT carbanogel product. Thecarbanogel was also a made from CO₂ CNT product when the cathode waschanged to Monel or Ni alloys, including Inconels, Nichromes and Ni-ironand Ni-copper alloys, and the anode was changed to Inconels, Nichromesand Ni-iron and Ni-copper alloys. 0.2 grams of this carbanogel productwas cleaned with hydrochloric acid (HCl) and mixed in 300 mL ofIsopropyl alcohol, and then sonicated for 30 minutes for an evendispersion. The mixture was then poured into a vacuum filter assembly(Nylon Membrane Filters; 0.2 μm Pore, 47 mm diameter), and the liquidwas pulled out under vacuum, a wide range of filter pore sizes andsolvents are found to be effective to form buckypaper from CO₂transformed to carbanogel in this manner. The CNTs had mixedorientations in the forming CB, or were aligned when a mechanical force,electrical field or magnetic field was applied during the liquid(alcohol) removal stage. Once all noticeable alcohol was passed throughthe filter, the filter was taken out and dried overnight at roomtemperature. The resultant CB was removed off the Nylon Membrane Filterand had a thickness of 180 μm.

FIG. 6 is a second example of a CB made from CO₂. The example isentirely black in color; the figure was lightened to highlight contrast.The FIG. 6 CB example was made from CO₂ transformed to carbanogel asdescribed in the previous example, but instead of chemical washing, theelectrolyte content of the carbanogel was reduced by compression.Specifically, the carbanogel was generated at the cathode and was thencompressed through a mesh or layers of mesh while hot and containingboth solid CNM and the molten electrolyte. A 500 psi pressure at 750° C.was used to produce the CB in FIG. 6 Similar, but thinner, CBs wereproduced at an applied pressure of 1000 psi and higher, while thicker CBwas produced with less than 500 psi of applied pressure. The CB shown inFIG. 6 has a diameter of about 350 mm, and approximately 2 fold largerhave been also made with 500 psi of applied pressure. The carbanogel hasalso been directly compressed on the hot cathode (after removal from thecase), or as in this example, compressed subsequent to transfer from thecathode. The carbanogel can be transferred while hot, or as in thisexample, transferred subsequent to processing (such as cooling, peeling,crushing and reheating to remelt electrolyte within the carbanogel)subsequent to transfer from the cathode. The screen mesh sizes used inthe compression are measured in units of lines per inch vary from a meshsize of 2 to 100, or a mesh size of 100 to 1,000 or a mesh size above1.00 lines per inch to reduce the electrolyte from the product. Meshsizes around 60 with a pore size of approximately 250 μm areparticularly effective along with various larger sizes. Note, that the250 μm pore size is much larger than the nanomaterial dimensions of theCNMs within the CB. Without being bound by any theory, the CO₂transformed buckypaper is formed during compression as the larger sizeof the intermingled CNM in the carbanogel is retained by the mesh, whilethe electrolyte passes through the mesh. The resultant CB has athickness linear proportionally to the starting mass of the carbanogeland approximately inversely proportionally to the applied pressure.

FIG. 7 is an example of carbanogel with electrolyte reduced by washing,and is shown at two different magnifications of ×720 and ×8600 asmeasured by scanning electron microscopy, SEM. This example is of a CNTcarbanogel as prepared by CO₂ electrolysis in the previous examples. Thelarge particle size of the intermingled CNMs comprising the carbanogelis evident in the half of FIG. 7 . This is large the 0.2 Mm pore size inthe first example or the 250 μm size mesh size in the second example.This allows the carbanogel to be readily formed from microscopicrestraining filters despite the nanomaterial dimensions of thecarbanogel materials in the lower portion of FIG. 7 . Subsequent to theelectrolysis, the carbanogel was peeled from the cooled cathode, andbroken up. The carbanogel, broken into pieces, is shown in the SEM imageof FIG. 7 subsequent to washing with concentrated HCl, and the highpurity of the CNTs and their orientation in a diverse range ofdirections is evident. An alternate wash with dilute HCl acid similarlywashes out electrolyte and metal impurities as measured by electrondispersive spectroscopy, EDS, and thermal gravimetric analysis, TGA. Analternative wash with either water or formic acid mainly removes theexcess electrolyte, and not the metal impurities. An alternative washwith either water or formic acid or ammonium sulfate mainly removes theexcess electrolyte, and not the metal impurities. Another alternativewash combining hydrochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide, in this case,sonicating, rather than mixing the carbanogel in a solution ofconcentrated HCl and 35% H2O2, removes excess electrolyte, metalimpurities, and in addition amorphous carbon impurities. Similarly,other chemical oxidizers, such as hydrochloric acid and potassiumpermanganate, are observed to be effective with adequate dilution, andelectrochemically generated oxidizers have been generated. As measuredby a lower combustion temperature with TGA of amorphous carbon comparedto carbon nanotubes, amorphous carbon is more prone to oxidation thanthe more robust layered graphene CNT structure, and may be removed as animpurity by chemical, electrochemical or thermal oxidation. As a furtherexample of reducing the impurity content of carbanogel, the carbanogelsubsequent to HCl wash is heated to 300° C., which as measured by massloss, and by TGA largely removes the amorphous carbon impurity, and asmeasured by SEM, retains the CNTs comprising the carbanogel.

The CB product made according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure may be used various applications such as, but not limited to:in liners, heat retardants, or shields. However, the CB product of thepresent disclosure may also be used as a component in a compositematerial such as, but not limited to, a laminate that incorporates atleast one layer of the CB product with other non-CB materials to impartimproved properties to those other non-CB materials. For example,buckypaper and composites made with buckypaper have displayed a shapememory property under thermal, mechanical, electrical, magnetic, lightor chemical activation conditions, and this property can be impartedinto laminate products that incorporate one or more layers of the CBproduct and one or more layers of non-CB material. This shape memoryeffect is promoted by the incorporation of anisotropic properties in theCB product, as described above. Furthermore, the electrical and thermalconductivity of the CB product may provide superior properties when usedin heating element or radiator applications.

Other applications of the CB buckypaper product that make specific useof the superior CNM properties of the carbanogel include, but are notlimited to: (a) light-weight tooling application for high speed, safety,and quick changes; (b) tools that are harder for better drilling,impact, and/or sawing; (c) tools with better thermal management; (d)ultra-strong, foldable materials; (e) as precursors to fibers andtextiles; (e) as a dense storage packet for transport and delivery ofCNMs and for the general sequestration of CO₂; (f) an ultra-light,ultra-absorbent sponge; (g) as pre-made laminate sheet for composites;(h) for ballistic or EMF shielding; (j) to make composites with highamount of CNMs by infiltrating pores in structure; (k) parachutes anddrag enhancers; (l) for studying the bulk properties of carbonnanomaterials.

Other uses of the CB product made according to the embodiments of thepresent disclosure include products that combine the advantage of two ormore superior CNM properties such as: structural materials that providedual usage additionally reducing weight, material costs/used, and/orincreasing capacity, such as for but not limited to: (i) structure andelectrical energy storage, or (ii) structure and thermal energy storage;(iii) for structure and as an electrical conduit or wire; (iv) forstructure and as strain or safety sensors to collect real time data onthe material performance; (v) for structure and serve as catalyst; (vi)for structure and as a thermal conduit. Also, there are applications anduses of CB products made according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure to increase safety by being used in a heat dispersing memberfor dispersing high heat, such as in applications where fire is aconcern.

We claim:
 1. A system for making a carbanogel buckypaper, the systemcomprising: a. an apparatus for performing an electrolysis process thatsplits carbon dioxide (CO₂) within a molten electrolyte for producing acarbanogel, wherein the carbanogel comprises carbon nanomaterials (CNM)and electrolyte; b. a mold; and c. a compression unit.
 2. The system ofclaim 1, further comprising a processing unit.
 3. The system of claim 1,further comprising an electrolyte reducing unit.
 4. The system of claim1, further comprising an alignment unit.
 5. The system of claim 1,further comprising an isolation unit.
 6. The system of claim 1, whereinthe compression unit comprises a vacuum for pulling the carbanogelthrough a filter.
 7. The system of claim 2, wherein the processing unitis configured to cool the carbanogel, extract the cooled carbanogel andcrush the cooled carbanogel.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein thecompression unit is configured to apply a pressure of at least 2000 psi.9. The system of claim 3, wherein the electrolyte reducing unit isconfigured to press, react, wash, filter and any combination thereof forreducing the amount of electrolyte within the carbanogel.
 10. The systemof claim 9, wherein the reducing unit is integrated into the mold or thealignment unit is separate from the mold.
 11. The system of claim 2,wherein the processing unit is integrated into the mold or the alignmentunit is separate from the mold.
 12. The system of claim 4, wherein thealignment unit is integrated into the mold or the alignment unit isseparate from the mold.
 13. Use of the carbanogel buckypaper made by thesystem of claim 1 as a heating element.
 14. Use of the carbanogelbuckypaper made by the system of claim 1 as any one of: light-weighttooling application for high speed, safety, and quick changes; a toolfor drilling, impact, and/or sawing; a tool for thermal management; afoldable material; a precursor to fibers and textiles; a storage packetfor transport and delivery of CNMs; for sequestrating carbon dioxide; asa sponge; pre-made laminate sheet for composites; a ballistic shield; anelectromagnetic (EMF) shield; a composite with high amount of CNMs byinfiltrating pores in a structure of the composite; a parachute; a dragenhancer; and, to study bulk properties of CNMs.
 15. Use of thecarbanogel buckypaper made by the system of claim 1 as a heat dispersingmember.
 16. Dual use of the carbanogel buckypaper made by the system ofclaim 1 as: a portion of a structure and electrical energy storage; aportion of a structure and thermal energy storage; a portion of astructure and as an electrical conduit or wire; a portion of a structureand as strain or safety sensor to collect real time data on materialperformance; a portion of a structure and as a catalyst; a portion of astructure and as a thermal conduit and any combination thereof.